Terrified shoppers feared McDonald’s ‘machete-wielding knifeman’ was ‘going to kill everyone’ as he stormed restaurant and ‘slashed diner in the face’

TERRIFIED shoppers feared a McDonald’s “knifeman” was “going to kill everyone” during a machete rampage.

Diners said people "ran for their lives" and feared the attacker when he brandished the blade in the restaurant on Sheffield's High Street around 9.30am today.

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A man was held down by cops today following reports of a machete attack in McDonald's

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The weapon was seen close to where the man was held down by cops

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A man was seen being led out of the McDonald's covered in blood and with his head bandaged

One woman said she saw the man as she walked past on her way to work.

She said: "It was a sword. We were so scared. We thought he was going kill everyone."

The woman said she took refuge in the McDonald's.

She said: "The first thing I thought was it was terrorism.

"I was just walking to work and I just wanted to get safe. We went into the restaurant and they locked the doors."

A large knife was seen on the floor close to where the man was detained, on the opposite side of the road outside a Computer Exchange store.

It was a sword. We were so scared. We thought he was going kill everyone

Witness

One diner told the Sheffield Star: "I was just walking up Fargate and I heard people screaming. I turned around and there were people running out of McDonald’s.

“They said a guy walked in with a machete so they just ran. What’s the world coming to when you can’t go into McDonald’s at 9.30am in the morning?”

One witness said: “In McDonald’s in High Street in Sheffield and a bloke just ran in and slashed a guy across the face with a machete.”

Another tweeted: “Some bloke with a machete in Sheffield High Street McDonald’s has just been carted off in the riot van.”

A man, 47, with his head bandaged and blood streaming down the left side of his face was later seen being led out of the restaurant by paramedics.

Blood could be seen on the pavement outside McDonald's.

The McDonalds restaurant remained closed on Thursday afternoon as police guarded the scene and a forensics officer investigated.

MAN ARRESTED ON SUSPICION OF ATTEMPTED MURDER

South Yorkshire Police said: "Officers were called to McDonalds on the High Street, Sheffield at 9:26am this morning following reports of a man with a machete.

"A 21-year-old man was arrested on suspicion of attempted murder, possession of a knife or bladed article and possession of drugs. He is currently in custody awaiting interview.

"The incident is not believed to be linked to terrorism.

"A 47-year-old man suffered non-life threatening injuries and has been taken to hospital by ambulance.

"Officers remain at the scene, however the High Street remains open."

Superintendent Paul McCurry added: "The CCTV operatives in Sheffield spotted a man with a machete. As a result they alerted police on the radio and nearby officers were on scene within less than two minutes of the call.

"They quickly detained the offender, placing the safety of the public over their own without hesitation. This is a superb example of the bravery of police officers who every day do amazing work to protect the public."

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A spokesman for McDonald's told Sun Online: "We can confirm that an incident which started outside our Sheffield High Street restaurant this morning resulted in the police being called and the restaurant being closed to allow them to investigate.

"We are supporting our restaurant team who were working at the time of the incident."

Anybody with information about the incident is asked to call 101 quoting incident number 189 of January 31.

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A man was detained on Sheffield High Street following the attack in McDonald's